LAFC at Vancouver Whitecaps
Saturday, July 2, 2022
7:00pm PT
BC Place - Vancouver, British Columbia
TV: KCOP 13, Estrella 62.2
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
LAFC travel to Canada for a Western Conference matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening. Vancouver have a 6W-1L-3D record at BC Place across all competitions and will look to stifle first place LAFC, who have won three of their last four matches.
The match will be a reunion on the pitch and the sidelines, as LAFC goalkeeper Max Crépeau squares off against his former team after spending four seasons in Canada. LAFC defender Doneil Henry also played in Vancouver in 2018-2019, and LAFC assistant coach Marc Dos Santos compiled a 22-39-20 (W-L-T) record as head coach of Vancouver from 2018-2021.
Tristan Blackmon, the second draft pick in LAFC history and a member of LAFC’s 2018 inaugural squad, is now with Vancouver.
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VANCOUVER IN-DEPTH
Last season, Vancouver put together an impressive end of season run that saw them push into the MLS Cup Playoffs led by the MVP caliber play of Ryan Gauld. A midseason acquisition, Gauld scored goals and made an immediate impact on the Whitecaps attack. So far in 2022, Gauld has not been up to those lofty standards he set in 2021, but he remains Vancouver’s most important and dangerous player who is the linchpin of their offense. The Whitecaps newly-signed Designated Player, Andrés Cubas, will look to break up LAFC attacks from the midfield.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
They continue to defend as a complete team and create more offense. LAFC will need to limit Vancouver's big chances in transition and look to create more chances themselves. LAFC players coming off the bench have shown flashes of brilliance this season, continuously making an impact by scoring or assisting goals, and will look to continue that trend.
VANCOUVER CAN WIN IF
They create chances on the fast break in transition. The Whitecaps are a team built to counter and storm into the box in transition. Cristian Dajome are two Lucas Cavallini are two forwards with real speed who are very dangerous on the wings. If their playmaker Gauld is able to find them in attacking moments, and then he has space to run into the box to finish, they can come out on top. Vancouver’s transition attacking identity will be put to a good test against LAFC’s solid defensive shape.
Inspired by Tony Hawk's Underground, a skateboarding video game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2003 for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance.
